“Oh?” Li Helan asked with concern, “Miss Qin is such a gentle and water-like beauty – why would Brother Xiao punish you with confinement?”

Then she smiled again, as if understanding, and patted Qin Yining’s shoulder consolingly: “That’s just his temperament. He’s been like this since childhood, very cold and unfeeling toward outsiders. Don’t worry, this princess will definitely speak to Brother Xiao later and ask him not to punish you anymore.”

Hearing her repeated calls of “Brother Xiao” and remarks about “since childhood” and “cold and unfeeling toward outsiders,” Qin Yining felt her teeth ache.

It seemed that although Princess Imperial had betrothed herself to Marquis Dingbei, her feelings for Pang Xiao hadn’t extinguished.

Well-bred young ladies from distinguished families followed the three obediences and four virtues. This Princess Imperial, having grown up pampered and accustomed to getting her way, naturally didn’t understand how to accept the reality of unfulfilled desires. Now that her marriage wasn’t to her liking, she would surely strive for “true love” in the future.

In the lightning-fast moment within Qin Yining’s mind, she suddenly completely understood His Majesty’s intention in bestowing the marriage between Princess Imperial Anyang and Ji Zeyu.

No matter how good brothers Ji Zeyu and Pang Zhixi were, any man would not tolerate his wife’s heart being entirely occupied with someone else!

To sow discord between these two men of the south and north who each commanded heavy troops, Li Qitian would stop at nothing – he could even sacrifice his own sister’s lifelong happiness!

This mental lightning lasted only a breath’s time.

She bowed again, her watery eyes sparkling as she said tremblingly: “Thank you, Princess Imperial. If Princess Imperial could speak kindly for this humble woman, this humble woman would be eternally grateful. Let me thank Princess Imperial in advance.”

Li Helan saw her face full of surprise and joy, moved almost to tears like a harmless little animal receiving food. Her inner contempt for her grew, but her guard also lessened.

Such a delicate, flower-like weak woman, snatched into the mansion by Pang Xiao – with unclear whether she was being doted upon or tormented – the more such speculation and gossip spread, the more Qin Shi’s reputation would stink.

For Li Helan, who was heaven’s favored daughter, Qin Yining no longer posed a threat.

Li Helan was too lazy to bother with people who posed no threat to her, feeling that even speaking a few more words with Qin Yining was a waste of time.

However, Li Helan wasn’t a brainless fool, and her noble status as Princess Imperial didn’t allow her to appear too discourteous.

So Li Helan took Qin Yining’s hands and carefully instructed her about daily life matters, promised again to intercede for her, and said she could come find her if needed.

Such polite words were spoken far too hypocritically. Even if Qin Yining were truly a fool who took courtesy at face value, she probably couldn’t enter the palace walls if she wanted to find Princess Imperial.

Princess Imperial took her leave after just a moment.

Qin Yining respectfully kowtowed in the courtyard to see her off. Only after the person left did she finally breathe a sigh of relief. Without saying much to Xu Weizhi, she merely nodded in acknowledgment before hurrying back to Suxue Garden for her “confinement.”

In the carriage, Li Helan wore a mocking smile at the corners of her lips, closing her eyes to rest.

Head palace maid He Xiang gently massaged Li Helan’s legs while observing her master’s expression, saying softly: “That Miss Qin is indeed a top-tier beauty, but unfortunately her character is too despicable.”

“Mm?” Li Helan lazily opened her eyes.

He Xiang said: “As soon as she appeared, she seduced the prince into acting completely out of character, even making him do something like public robbery. It’s spread everywhere outside, saying the prince is a hero who cannot overcome a beauty’s charms. Such a calm and steady peerless hero was actually seduced by Qin Shi into disregarding his reputation – truly a case of heroic spirit falling short.”

He Xiang’s voice was very gentle, spoken in a measured manner with a soft tone that no one could find offensive.

Moreover, Li Helan, raised in the deep palace, was quite willing to hear outside gossip and rumors.

However, today’s rumors made her heart extremely uncomfortable.

Li Helan’s fingers, wearing pure gold nail guards, repeatedly poked at the handkerchief in her hands as she said casually: “She does have a pretty shell. But for a woman, being born too beautiful is also a kind of fault.”

Hearing this, He Xiang asked curiously: “Doesn’t Princess Imperial think Qin Shi deliberately seduced the prince?”

“The initiative in this matter doesn’t rest with her. What can a weak woman do?”

“Princess Imperial is just too kind.” He Xiang’s tone was indignant: “Comparing appearance, Princess Imperial is on par with her. Comparing birth, Princess Imperial is truly of noble blood. Just as Qin Shi said earlier, Princess Imperial is the bright moon in heaven while she’s merely roadside weeds. Princess Imperial surpasses her in every way, yet the prince was still seduced by her – it truly makes this servant indignant.”

He Xiang’s words successfully stirred up the irritation and jealousy in Li Helan’s heart.

Everyone loves beauty – beautiful women have more attraction for men. This was an undeniable fact. But appearance was given by one’s parents; her jealousy was useless.

Thinking that Pang Xiao avoided seeing her yet kept a beauty locked at home like a bird in a golden cage, not hesitating even if it spread his reputation for lustfulness throughout the capital – this showed that Pang Xiao had already developed deep roots of affection for Qin Shi.

Li Helan felt extremely wronged.

A Qin Shi whom he’d just met had defeated her based on beauty alone.

Then what did her years of affection for Pang Xiao amount to?

Seeing Li Helan’s appearance, He Xiang became even more indignant: “Princess Imperial has such a good nature, but this servant lacks cultivation. Just now seeing you treat Qin Shi so well, this servant wanted to rush up and give her several hard slaps for you, tear her face apart, and see how she could still seduce the prince!”

For that instant, Li Helan was almost impulsively ready to order the driver to return to the prince’s mansion and personally give Qin Yining several hard slaps as He Xiang suggested.

But she closed her eyes to think for a moment, and the surging jealousy and hatred in her heart was suppressed once again.

“In this matter, the root cause isn’t with Qin Shi, but with Pang Zhixi. Pang Zhixi is a formidable character. Looking purely at beauty, this princess cannot compare to Qin Shi, but comparing other things, this princess has more than enough. This princess believes that over time, he will discover how greatly beneficial it would be to become this princess’s consort!”

“But, but your consort is already definitely going to be Marquis Dingbei!” He Xiang struck Li Helan’s sore point with one sentence.

Li Helan took several deep breaths, shook her head, and said: “Even if he doesn’t become this princess’s consort, he will know the benefits of following this princess.”

Her gaze turned fierce, then resolute, as Li Helan said: “He Xiang, when we return, send a visiting card to the prince’s mansion. This princess must see Pang Zhixi tomorrow. I don’t believe he can keep avoiding this princess indefinitely!”

“Yes.” He Xiang respectfully acknowledged, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief in her heart.

At the same time, in a private room on the third floor of “Climbing Sparrow Tower,” Ji Zeyu’s pale, slender hand picked up a white porcelain wine pot and extended his arm to pour a cup for Pang Xiao.

Pang Xiao smiled and picked up the wine to drain it in one gulp.

Seeing this, Ji Zeyu couldn’t help but smile as well, tilting his head back to finish his own wine.

The two men drank an entire pot without saying a word, then put down their cups and smiled at each other, seeming to recapture the feeling of being together in their youth.